Silva Aiming For Fast Everton Start

Marco Silva is urging Everton to fly out of the traps when they return to Premier League action against Bournemouth at Goodison Park this weekend.

Silva has had an opportunity to work with his players for an extended period leading into the clash with Eddie Howe’s side.

And after focusing on “many, many details” during the past week, the Everton manager is eager for his team to deliver a high-tempo performance from kick-off on Sunday.

Everton and Bournemouth are level pegging on 27 points and both seeking a victory which could conceivably act as the springboard for a prosperous second half of the campaign.

“It is always good for the squad to have a normal week to work and prepare – a normal week to take care of many, many details, because they are important in our way, our model,” Silva told evertontv.

“It is always important for me as a coach – not just for me, for all the managers – when you have a normal week to prepare for the match.

“It is really important [to start the game quickly], it is our aim as a team, to go and have a big impact in the game from the first minute.

“It will be an open game, in my opinion, Bournemouth are a really strong team on the counter attack, they can take big advantage in those moments, with two strong strikers and two fast wingers.

“It will be a tough match, they have quality. But we have to look at ourselves and our quality – respecting Bournemouth but doing everything we can to win the match, which will be the main thing for us.”

Everton’s most recent Premier League success came in the form of a 5-1 thumping of Burnley on Boxing Day.

Additionally, Silva’s side beat Lincoln City last week to set up an FA Cup fourth-round tie with Millwall later this month.

Those victories, however, sandwiched a pair of single-goal losses, with Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City avenging defeats at the hands of Everton earlier in the campaign.

Both reverses came in the midst of a period of four matches in 10 days and drove home the value of grabbing the lead in a Premier League match.

Everton have won seven and drawn three of the 11 league games in which they have hit the front this term.

“It will give us confidence [if we score first against Bournemouth], the game will be different and our opponent will play in a different way,” added Silva.

“Everyone can see how this season our opponents have come here to play against us in a different way from the past.

“But what I want – to be honest – even if something happens, or we do not start well in the match, we have to be able to turn things for us.

“The game is 95 minutes, it is not just until the moment we score or the opponent scores.

“Our aim is to score the first goal in the game, that would be fantastic for us.

“But if that doesn’t happen, we have to react, keep doing things well, keep focussed and try to win the match.”